When I was younger, my parents often promise me something if I would top our class. Since we did not usually get to buy things that we wanted, I would always hold onto that promise. Whenever I felt so lazy to study, I would remember their promise to me and that motivated me to do my best in return of that so-called “favor” of being given something you ask for. There were times that I would get mad because they were not able to fulfill their promise to me. Most often than not, my mother made me feel guilty by saying that we needed to buy more important things than what I was asking for. It came to a point that I no longer believed their promises. I did all those things for my own self and not for the supposedly reward from them.
Human promises fail. That’s a reality. For some of us, you may relate to my story. Broken promises are not just from our parents but from anyone – our friends, colleagues, families, and people around us. At some point, I am sure that we also failed to fulfill our promise to someone.
But God is different. He neve fails to accomplish His own words.
Looking at my life, I often ask, “Are the promises of God true to my life?” There is no doubt that I believe them. However, is the fruit that belief an evident in my Christian life? The Israelites believed that God does miracles. They even experienced it. But if we look at their lives, they never learned to truly claim those promises. Instead of resting and leaning on His promises, they became discontented. They grumbled and even questioned God’s power and sovereignty.
When we believe something, we act upon it. It is manifested in our lives, isn’t it? Nevertheless, there are times that there seems to be a misalignment to what we believe in with how we act or respond. Like the Israelites story, when we face difficulties and trials in life, we tend to forget to lean on God’s promises. Maybe because we tend to focus on that situation and our self-sufficiency instead of waiting on God.
The Bible is full of His promises that we can claim and hold onto during tough times.
As I remember my life now and what I am going through, there is no better thing that I can do other than to lean on God’s promises. It is hard because clinging on to His promises takes not only my head but my heart. Nonetheless, it is the best thing that I could do.
Promises of God
One of my favorite verses is found in Jeremiah 29 that says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (v11). This verse is given to the Israelites, who were captives and carried away to Babylon. And, God told them that He would fulfill this promise seventy years after. Thinking about this, seventy years is such a long time. But this came to pass as He promised. Putting ourselves in their shoes, I know it is so hard to really lean on this promise, especially when we don’t see Him along the way. But God’s character tells us that He is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent (Numbers 23:19). By this, our full assurance that every word He says will come to pass. Believing this will give us security in embracing His promises. Unlike us, God will never fail us even though all things may seem to bring us down.
Leaning on His promises does not guarantee us with a problem free life. Instead, those will be our comfort and encouragement as we choose to press forward despite unpleasant life situations. Those promises are like honey to our soul when all we can taste is the bitterness of life.
My life for the past years could be sum up in two words – heartaches and sickness. I don’t even know how I got through all of those. But I am sure that without remembering His promises to me, I could have given up. Indeed, His grace is sufficient for me and His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Leaning on His promises is my only secret to get going in spite of the urge to quit and wallow in bitterness or sadness. I know that my God is able to deliver me for he said that even the mountains will depart, and the hills be removed, His kindness shall not depart from Him (Isaiah 54:10). He lets me walk on that kindness because despite my stubborn heart, He never left nor forsaken me (Hebrews 13:5).
I have learned through the years of undermining God’s promises that the more we know God’s character, the more we trust His promises. The more we trust His promises, the more we lean on them in times of difficulties.
In your personal moment with God and in the quietness of your heart ask yourself “Has God ever broken a promise for you?”
There is no sweeter thing than to lean on His promises.
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